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Vivek Ramaswamy LAW ’13, the former Republican presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur, is poised to enter the Ohio gubernatorial race following current Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s departure due to term limits.

On Monday, news emerged that Ramaswamy had resigned from his Trump-appointed role as co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The initiative, originally spearheaded by Ramaswamy alongside billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, aims to cut government spending. 

Ramaswamy’s relationship with DOGE and fellow co-chair Musk reportedly deteriorated in recent weeks. Ramaswamy’s departure also came after he sharply criticized American culture, writing on X — formerly Twitter — that “American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long,” and clashed with other Republicans in a fiery online debate over H-1B visa policy.

“Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE,” Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the organization, stated in a report published by the Associated Press. “He intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE.”

Ramaswamy did not respond to a request for comment.

Speculation about Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial ambitions intensified after DeWine appointed Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Friday to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance LAW ’13. Husted had been widely considered a frontrunner for the governor’s race, but his Senate appointment may have cleared the way for Ramaswamy to seek Ohio’s top executive position. Reports also suggested that Trump had previously encouraged Ramaswamy to consider seeking Vance’s Senate seat.

“Vivek Ramaswamy is the true embodiment of the American Dream – and as the co-head of DOGE, he will tirelessly fight against wasteful government spending to preserve this American Dream for future generations,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) posted on X Friday afternoon. “If Vivek decides to run for Governor of Ohio, he will have my full support!”

Ramaswamy expressed gratitude for Blackburn’s endorsement and hinted at his interest, posting on X that running for governor is “not a bad idea.”

On Monday, following the inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vance, Ramaswamy posted on X that it had been his “honor to help support the creation of DOGE.” He added that he would “have more to say very soon about [his] future plans in Ohio” but was still “all-in to help President Trump make America great again.”

In November, Ramaswamy delivered the keynote address at the 14th annual Buckley Conference hosted by Yale’s Buckley Institute. During his visit, Ramaswamy also played tennis with Roee Benya ’27 and reconnected with Shabtai, Yale’s Jewish society, where he had been an active member during his time at Yale.

As a Yale Law School student, Ramaswamy received the prestigious Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, a graduate fellowship designed for immigrants and the children of immigrants.

If elected, Vivek would be the sixth Yale alumnus to serve as governor of Ohio.

ASHER BOISKIN
Asher Boiskin covers Alumni Affairs. Originally from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, he is a first-year in Morse College.